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A Systematic Review of Depressed Mood and Anxiety by SES in Youth Aged 10–15 Years

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Abstract

Objectives

A majority of population-based studies suggest prevalence of depressed mood and anxiety is most common during late adolescence to early adulthood. Mental health status has been linked previously to socio-economic status in adults. The purpose of this systematic literature review is to clarify if socio-economic status (SES) is a risk indicator of depressed mood or anxiety in youth between the ages of 10 to 15 years old.

Methods

We performed a systematic literature review to identify published or unpublished papers between January 1, 1 980 and October 31, 2006 that reviewed depressed mood or anxiety by SES in youth aged 10–15 years.

Synthesis

We found nine studies that fulfilled our inclusion criteria and passed the methodological quality review. The prevalence of depressed mood or anxiety was 2.49 times higher (95% CI 2.33–2.67) in youth with low SES in comparison to youth with higher SES.

Discussion

The evidence suggests that low SES has an inverse association with the prevalence of depressed mood and anxiety in youth between the ages of 10 to 15 years old. Higher rates of depressed mood and anxiety among lower socio-economic status youth may impact emotional development and limit future educational and occupational achievement.

Conclusion

Lower socio-economic status is associated with higher rates of depressed mood and anxiety in youth.

Résumé

Objectifs

Selon la majorité des études représentatives sur le sujet, la prévalence de l’humeur dépressive et de l’anxiété est plus courante entre la fin de l’adolescence et le début de l’âge adulte. L’état de santé mentale a déjà été lié au statut socioéconomique (SSE) chez les adultes. Au moyen d’une enquête bibliographique systématique, nous avons voulu déterminer si le SSE est aussi un indicateur du risque d’humeur dépressive ou d’anxiété chez les jeunes de 10 à 15 ans.

Méthode

À l’aide d’une enquête bibliographique systématique, nous avons répertorié les études publiées ou inédites menées entre le 1er janvier 1 980 et le 31 octobre 2006 portant sur l’humeur dépressive ou l’anxiété selon le SSE chez les jeunes de 1 0 à 1 5 ans.

Synthèse

Neuf études correspondaient à nos critères d’inclusion et de qualité méthodologique. La prévalence de l’humeur dépressive ou de l’anxiété était 2,49 fois supérieure (IC de 95 % = 2,33–2,67) chez les jeunes ayant un faible SSE que chez les jeunes ayant un SSE élevé.

Discussion

Ces données laissent croire que le faible SSE est inversement proportionnel à la prévalence de l’humeur dépressive et de l’anxiété chez les jeunes de 1 0 à 1 5 ans. Les taux plus élevés d’humeur dépressive et d’anxiété chez les jeunes au statut socioéconomique faible pourraient se répercuter sur leur développement affectif et limiter leurs résultats scolaires et professionnels futurs.

Conclusion

Un faible statut socioéconomique est associé à des taux élevés d’humeur dépressive et d’anxiété chez les jeunes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Saskatoon Health Region, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, S7L 0Z2, 101 — 310 Idylwyld Drive North

    Mark Lemstra PhD, Cory Neudorf MD, MHSc, FRCPC, Lynne M. Warren & Norman R. Bennett MSc

  2. University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada

    Carl D’Arcy PhD

  3. Erasmus University, Rotterdam, Netherlands

    Anton Kunst PhD

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  1. Mark Lemstra PhD
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  2. Cory Neudorf MD, MHSc, FRCPC
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  3. Carl D’Arcy PhD
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  4. Anton Kunst PhD
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  5. Lynne M. Warren
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  6. Norman R. Bennett MSc
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Correspondence to Mark Lemstra PhD.

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Lemstra, M., Neudorf, C., D’Arcy, C. et al. A Systematic Review of Depressed Mood and Anxiety by SES in Youth Aged 10–15 Years. Can J Public Health 99, 125–129 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03405459

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03405459

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